Quick Hits
- With all of the oddities in the 2.0 timeline, this probably isn’t actually that big of a reveal, but that’s only because I don’t have a spectacular new theory meant to blow minds to go along with it. Look carefully at Claire’s sonogram:
Don’t see it? C’mon, I spent an extra hour downloading tonight’s episode in high-def so you could have a crystal clear screen-grab of it.
- We should talk a bit about the “test” / diagnosis Dogen performed on the resurrected Sayid. Clearly (to me), Dogen is of the impression the Spring did not work its magic properly on Mr. Jarrah, as the Iraqi was not strong enough to outlast the sands of the hourglass while submerged. So what, then, brought him back to life?
We must remember Ben was brought here years ago by Kate and Sawyer in an effort to try and save him after being shot by Sayid. Richard warned them, however, that Ben’s “innocence will be gone” as a result of whatever lifesaving methods would be employed. It’s safe to assume that method was the Spring, and it did indeed infect Ben with a darkness that eventually overtook him (and led him to the fateful choice he made to kill Jacob). That same darkness has taken root within Sayid–it had “claimed” him–if we are to believe Dogen, despite the apparent healing effects of the Spring.
Based on the test parameters itself, I’m wondering if that “infection” is the result of Smokey/Esau/Man-in-Black/Evil Locke somehow tainting the Spring. Dogen starts by blowing what looks very much like the ash the Others are also using to protect their Temple perimeter over Sayid’s torso. No visible reaction from Sayid (other than, “WTF?”). He then attaches electrodes to his chest and shocks the hell out of him. As one would expect, Sayid didn’t enjoy that. The final phase of the diagnosis was to sear him with a hot poker. Again, Sayid shrieks in pain, as one would expect. All normal reactions one would expect out of a normal human being. And yet, Dogen deems him infected.
So, if Dogen is testing for the presence, however small, of Smokey within Sayid, the results wouldn’t seem to jibe with my theory. One would expect the test methods to have drawn the black taint (heh) out of Sayid in a manner different than straightforward displays of suffering. How would Sayid have passed this test? By feeling no pain at all? What happens if the Spring works as it should, when the waters are clear?
- And should we expect that green poison pill to actually kill Sayid? Or simply expel the infection? Dogen indicates the pill is meant to stop the spread of the infection. It’s safe to assume (there’s that dangerous word again) killing Sayid would be a solid method of preventing anyone else from becoming infected.
Shifting gears slightly, I couldn’t help but think of Danielle Rousseau’s ill-fated expedition, the members of which she long ago told us became infected after a visit to the Temple. Perhaps they all, save Danielle, took a bath in the not-so-clear waters of the Spring while no one was home.
- Some more allusions to the 2.0 timeline being guided in some manner by external forces: Claire blurts out “Aaron” out of the blue in suddenly naming her yet-to-be-born baby, which she somehow just “knew” all of a sudden.
By the way, figured out the sonogram yet?
- That aiding-and-abetting mechanic looked familiar. He been on the show before?
- Was that flash of recognition Kate gave Jack simply because she remembered stealing his pen on the plane, or was there something more there?
File it under the 2.0 Oddities file.
- Aldo explained it himself, but he was last seen in season 3 having his “Brief History of Time” reading session interrupted with a rifle butt to the head when Kate and Alex (Ben’s deceased daughter) were trying to break boyfriend Karl out of the brainwashing complex near the Hydra station.
Great write up and thanks for the tips/hints/theories. I, however, didn’t care for the episode as a whole…one leaves their captors, one follows, they run into others on the way, or way back, they get “caught”, they get complacent. The only “change” was Sawyer, finally ignoring Kate…let’s hope for good. I did recognize the guy who pops the rivet out of Kate’s handcuffs, but can’t remember off hand who he is/was. I like the idea that Jack should separate himself from his peers if he is truly to “lead”. I agree. Not understanding the whole “sideways” flashes….being in two places at once…..but as you said last week, since we have embraced the whole time travel thing, I’ll try to focus on figuring it out. Could actions taken in each “sideways” time period affect both directions? ie if a character does something on the island, could that behavior affect the mainland behavior, and vice versa? since you noted the time periods appear to be a month out of sync? (In some ways, LOST is like an Agatha Christie mystery….anyone could be the murderer, the author just explains at the end who does it and when and why.) Hopefully the LOST writers won’t do the same type of “ending”, where all of these theories and possibilities are just red herrings. But, they have promised us an ending with integrity, so hoping for the best.
what about Ethan?